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It's NOT a matter of how long the bike will last or how many miles withoutsomethinggoingwrong, the issue here is the irritating clatter noise that some of the 07's have and some don't. If your bike doesn't clatter then thank your lucky stars, but don't knock the ones who are having the problems. The very fact that some of the 07's clatter and some don't is evidence that some thing isn't normal. And NO 60 MPH in 5th. gear is not lugging the engine, that's a dead horse that's been buried long ago. I mean when most people, including myself,are running these things at 3000 RPM or better, should tell you something. Mine clatters in all gears as well as neutral starting at 2000 RPM, and has progressively got worse with miles. It doesn't matter if the engine/tranny last 10 miles or 100,000 miles before failing, it's the 10 miles or 100,000 miles listening to an irritating noise that was never intended to be part of the design characteristics of the bike, even by Harley standards. It's just that MOCObuilt to many of theirclatter wagons before discovering their mistake, and now for that reason they want to call all their screw-ups normal.My Ultra Clatter, has all the extras, i.e. V&H Ovals, SE Breather, PCIII, as well as heavier fluids in all there holes, that are suppose to helpquiet this clatter down, and theclatter still keeps getting louder and louder. The Ultra is HD's flagship bike and anyone who knows bikes, particularly Harley's, knows these 07's aren't right and the MOCO is now screwing their customers. There are the right noises Harley makes,and clattering marbles is not one of them.
I bought a new Road King Classic from Black Canyon HD in Montrose, Coloradotwo weeks ago. Traded in a virtually new '06 Sportster on which I lost $4000 on the trade. (Could not find a buyer for the Sportster after two months of advertising.) The Road King was built in June of 2007. I was aware of the possible transmission noise issues thanks to this site, so I took the RK for a twenty mile ride before taking delivery. (Also thought the late build date would be in my favor.) All seemed well. except for the fact that the handlebars were quite crooked when riding in a straight line. Figured I'd fix that myself when I got home. (The Sportster had crooked bars also, and it was just a matter of loosening the triple clamps and straightening the mis-aligned forks.) When I got home and really started to look the bike over I found a scratch in the paint on the front fender from where someone slipped installing the 'Road King' emblem. Also, the passenger floorboards had been bolted on at two different heights. Well, it was easy enough to fix the floorboards, and I can live with the scratch. The front forks turned out to be straight but in fact the bike is 'dogtracking'. Front and rear wheels are misaligned. From what I can tell, you can't adjust just one side of the rear axle to bring it into line- both sides adjust simultaneously when youloosen the nut and turn the axle.Once I put some miles on the bike in the hot weather the NOISE started. Fifth gear really howls and the clatter in fifth and sixth is utterly distracting. I'm not lugging it either, fifth gear whines all the way over seventy under any load. Also, due to the mis-alignment issue, the bike darts to the left when you take your hands off the bars. I made an appointment with the service department and took it in yesterday. When the tech. got back from the test ride he stated that everything was normal. "These '07s are noisy." "Well, what about the alignment?" "I just moved my *** over to the right and the bike went straight". Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I went for a short ride and when we got back, she said the heat from the exhaust pipes was unbearable. (And she's not a complainer.) I felt the inside of her pant leg and it was HOT! It will probably cost thousands more to fix these issues, and I doubt that there will be any help from the MoCo. How do they get away with it? The Sportster was a bit cramped for two up riding, but it was a much better bike overall. Do you think that we as a group can get anything done about the whine and clatter issues?
That right there speaks volumes about the mindset of the boycott crowd. WTF would you finalize the purchase on a brand new bike if it in fact had "crooked" bars? What do think the service writer thought when (if) you explained to him that it was like that on the test ride, but you thought you could fix it yerself? On a brand new bike that you signed off on the pre-delivery inspection form? That part about any known issues being brought to the dealers attention? Baffles me...
As far as the whine, it is normal and will go away with miles. Mine quit whining at 13K.
As for the clatter, never had that problem till last night while riding and thinking about all these clatter posts. I was cruising through town at 2800 RPM going about 30 MPH. I upshifted while keeping my speed constant, and two gears up my 07 FLHT sounded like a tin can full of marbles in a paint shaking machine. I thought to myself while downshifting, is this what they're talking about!??
Also, I like Longsnowsm suggestion- get those video's posted, I want to hear what you're all complaining about 'cause for every one of you that's ready to boycott, there seems to be ten satisfied 07 owners.
Don't understand the personal attack, Time2ride. You're right about the handlebars, I should have s
There are a few on this forum who for what ever reason can't stand tohear the truth, the truth that HD is screwing their customers by building junks now days, and with pretty much NO warranty. All they care about is if their personal bike is ok and thatthey keep the HD legend alive, which has been dead for years. They wouldn't admit it even if their bike was one of the clatter wagons, just so long as they can brag about owning a Harley. There are better bikes out there at half the cost of these clatter wagons, one does not necessarily have to purchase a Harley now days to get a cool look and sound. There are some bikesout there that resemble HD so much that it is scary. For the most part, most of the people in this forum are backing the ones that HD has screwed, others that don't, we just overlook or pay no attention to, it's a why bother thing.
Didn't intend it as a personal "attack", just having a hard time understanding why any person would take delivery of a crooked bike, and if it were brought to the attention of the dealer and they told you pound sand, then there are legal options available to unwind the deal. I understand you were pumped about getting a new ride, and would still like a video of one of these clatter glides... going to youtube now to search for one.
My bike is awesome, love it! But, make no mistake, it's a noisy beast. The tranny and primary are clatterin and chatterin. Hopefully I will be able to quiet them down one day, until then I'll put up with it. At 75 mph with the stereo blastin I can't hear it anyway!
Powder coating peeling off my 07 Clatter Wagon rear cylinder head, and for several months now I'vebeen trying to get my dealer (Fosters)to repair/replace it. Initially my dealer (Fosters) said they would replace the cylinder head after trying to paint it with enamel paint, what a mess. Now today, I wastold by my dealers service manager, thatI had sent emails to HD complaining about the 07 issues my bike is experiencing, one of which being the clatter noise, and for that reason the MOCOarea repsays he will not authorize repair/replacement of the head. What a jerk, who does he think he is GOD?However, I've got a wake-up call for this gent, this is a warranty item, and my attorney is going to crawl all over this guy, and MOCO, if they breach the warranty contract. This is not one of those debatable issues if the clatter noise is normal or not, this isplain ole screwing the customer, AGAIN. MOCO, you've screwed the wrong person this time!
Powder coating peeling off my 07 Clatter Wagon rear cylinder head, and for several months now I'vebeen trying to get my dealer (Fosters)to repair/replace it. Initially my dealer (Fosters) said they would replace the cylinder head after trying to paint it with enamel paint, what a mess. Now today, I wastold by my dealers service manager, thatI had sent emails to HD complaining about the 07 issues my bike is experiencing, one of which being the clatter noise, and for that reason the MOCOarea repsays he will not authorize repair/replacement of the head. What a jerk, who does he think he is GOD?However, I've got a wake-up call for this gent, this is a warranty item, and my attorney is going to crawl all over this guy, and MOCO, if they breach the warranty contract. This is not one of those debatable issues if the clatter noise is normal or not, this isplain ole screwing the customer, AGAIN. MOCO, you've screwed the wrong person this time!
Just call HD support and you may find some help. Being civil helps, even if it hurts.
Hello,i recently clocked 6107 mileson an 07 SG,bought the bike new, rode it in town for 285 miles then went out on the road for 4 weeks. In that time i did notice alot of noise from engine,mostly as listed -1)Knock upon start-up and release of starter button. 2)Heavy knock when in sixth and down in the low 2000rpm range.......yes lugging. 3)pinging noise in engine whenwicking throttle at 3000rpm and up.and no,not the fuel.Got up to 1300 miles and brought it in for the first service. Amsoil in engine and Bel-ray in trans and primary. Pulling a traier and a total combined unit/rider weigh in at 1450 lbs. Absolutely no tranny whine throughout the entire range. Im pretty confident in the maikings of HD's product,despite the few quirks,just ride it and fix it when it *****.
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